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“cask ale in a bottle … naturally enhanced with a late addition of aromatic Cascasde Hops. Malts: Pale & Caramalt; Hops: First Gold & Cascade.”

Fruity taste, very slightly bitter. The empty glass smells of flowers, maybe violets, and slightly like pee (well…).

O'Hanlon's Brewing Company Ltd, Devon, England. 4.2% alcohol.

Très alcoolisée, assez sucrée, ressemble davantage à un vin blanc eu peu pétillant qu'à une bière. Contient du malt d'orge.

Anthony Martin, Genval, Belgique. 12 % alcool.

Très alcoolisée, très sucrée et pas grand chose d'autre. Contient du malt d'orge.

Anthony Martin, Genval, Belgique. 10 % alcool.

Encore une bière anglaise typique, très forte et plutôt sucrée, avec un goût de levure (ou de houblon ?) prononcé. Contient du malt d'orge.

Anthony Martin, Genval, Belgique. 8,4 % alcool.

« … brassée suivant le recette originale de Lambic de fermentation spontanée pour arriver lentement à maturation en fûts de chêne. Ensuite, le jus des framboises les plus mûres est ajouté… »

Plutôt acide, un très fort arôme de framboise. Contient du malt d'orge et du blé.

Mort Subite, Asse, Belgique. 4.5 % alcool.

Encore une autre bière brune comme en produit la perfide Albioni, forte et légèrement sucrée. Contient du malt d'orge, du maïs, de l'orge torréfié.

Anthony Martin, Genval, Belgique. 8,6 % alcool.

Encore une bière belge qui ressemble à une bière belge. Contient du malt d'orge et du mais.

Anthony Martin, Genval, Belgique. 5.8 % alcool.

Just another strong ale, with maybe a hint of fruits. Made of malted barley and maize.

InBev Belgium N.V./S.A., Brussels, Belgium. 7.7% alcohol.

« La Rodenbach est l'unique bière rouge-brun de Flandre, reconnue au titre de produit régional traditionnel. La fermentation principale mixte et la maturation en fûts (foudres) de chêne lui confèrent un goût aigre-doux et un coté fruité complexe semblable à celui du vin. La Rodenbach est un mélange de 3/4 de bière jeune et de 1/4 de bière ayant mûri pendant 2 ans en fûts de chêne. »

Ressemble davantage à du vin qu'à de la bière, mis à part le coté fortement pétillant. Plutôt acide, un goût de jus de raisin peut-être. Contient du malt d'orge.

N.V. Palm Breweries S.A., Roeselare, Belgique. 5.2 % alcool.

« … brassée suivant le recette originale de Lambic de fermentation spontanée pour arriver lentement à maturation en fûts de chêne. Ensuite, les cerises les plus mûres sont ajoutées… »

Un parfum très prononcé de cerise, un certaine acidité, et un arrière goût légèrement amer et astringeant. Contient du malt d'orge et du blé.

Mort Subite, Asse, Belgique. 4.5 % alcool.

« Bière d'abbaye de fermentation haute, brassée dans la tradition des bénédictins de l'abbaye de Maredsous. »

Très sucrée, très forte, pas d'amertume, un goût un peu fruité. Contient du malt d'orge.

Duvel Moortgat, Puurs, Belgique. 10 % alcool.

« Bière d'abbaye de fermentation haute, brassée dans la tradition des bénédictins de l'abbaye de Maredsous. »

Sucrée, peu d'amertume. Contient du malt d'orge.

Duvel Moortgat, Puurs, Belgique. 8 % alcool.

« Bière d'abbaye de fermentation haute, brassée dans la tradition des bénédictins de l'abbaye de Maredsous. »

Une bière blonde au goût typique de bière belge, légèrement amère. Contient du malt d'orge.

Duvel Moortgat, Puurs, Belgique. 6 % alcool.

Bière au pain d'épices Fortwenger. One ne sent pas du tout le goût de pain d'épices ; légèrement amère, arrière goût de clou de girofle (en se forçant un peu). Contient du malt d'orge et de blé.

Brasserie de Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre, Alsace, France. 5,8 % alcool.

« … brassée suivant le recette originale de Lambic de fermentation spontanée pour arriver lentement à maturation en fûts de chêne. Ensuite, des cerises fraîches sont ajoutées… »

L'odeur me rappelle une entrée de poisson froide (si, si !), et le goût celui d'un vinaigre de framboise dilué (normal, la Lambic est une bière acide). Il faut savoir à l'avance qu'elle est parfumée à la cerise pour en reconnaître le goût. Mais c'est peut-être aussi à cause du léger rhume que mon nez me joue de tours. Contient du malt d'orge et du blé.

Mort Subite, Asse, Belgique. 4.5 % alcool.

“A traditional English ale, but cold-conditioned as a lager.”

Smells of yeast, tastes like a lager, a little bitter. Made of malted barley and wheat.

Daleside Brewery Limited, Yorkshire, England. 4.3% alcohol.

“In English pubs, Bodingtons is served using the traditional hand-pulled method”

Very smooth taste that reminded me of violet or marshmallow, with a distinctive yeast taste. Almost no bitterness. Made of malted barley and wheat.

Inbev UK Limited, Luton, England. 4.7% alcohol.

Very fruity, the taste reminded me strongly of ananas, followed by a taste of white wine (Riesling, maybe). The aftertaste is terribly bitter, though. Made of malted barley.

Morland Brewing, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. 6.5% alcohol.

“Chocolate malt and dark chocolate are combined with Young's award winning rich, full flavoured dark beer…”

It smells like hot chocolate, and its taste is both sweet and bitter, like a very rich hot chocolate, only cold and fizzy. The chocolate taste dominates completely the one of the stout. I would also guess that the chocolate has been made with Criollos or maybe Trinitarios cocoa beans. It's not sweet enough to go well with chocolate, though. Made of malted barley and oats.

Young & Co's Brewery P.L.C. The Ram Brewery, Wandsworth, London, England. 5.2% alcohol.

“aromatic, dry, fruity flavour.”

The smell is fruity, but I can't put a name on it. It tastes very fruity, maybe of peach, with a very slightly bitter aftertaste. Made of malted barley, bottle conditioned.

Young & Co's Brewery P.L.C. The Ram Brewery, Wandsworth, London, England. 6.4% alcohol.

“For centuries, the soldiers of the Highlands and the Lowlands of Scotland have been familiarly referred to as Jocks – powerful fighting men who have enjoyed strong beers in their off-duty hours.

Old Jock is a classic Scottish Strong Ale. Dark and strongly flavoured it should be drunk at room temperature and savoured like a fine wine.

Highly recommended as accompaniment to cheese and meat dishes.”

Smells slightly like beef stock, but the taste is sweet and the after taste reminds me slightly of chocolate. Made of malted barley.

Broughton Ales limited, Broughton Biggar, Scotland. 6.7% alcohol.

“Brewed using a cool, slowly fermentation process together with the finest quality Maris Otter barley and Fuggles & Goldings hops”

It smells a bit like vegetable stock. The taste is quite sweet, fruity with a hint of melon. Made of malted barley.

Marston's Brewery, Burton upon Trent, England. 6.2% alcohol.

“dark in colour, full of body with a smooth velvet finish”

Smells like beef stock an metal, tastes bitter like a Guinness, and reminds me very vaguely of coffee. Made of malted barley and wheat.

Daleside Brewery Ltd., Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. 4.4% alcohol.

“floral ale brewed with a blend of three English hops…”

Just another ale, not very bitter. Made of malted barly and wheat.

Daleside Brewery Ltd., Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. 4.5% alcohol.

“… a unique blend of pale, crystal, brown and chocolate malts. These malts give the beer a wonderful chocolatey flavour, while the Fuggle hops ensure that the beer has a smooth finish, making London Porter a perfect accompaniment to a chocolate pudding or on its own as an after-dinner drink.”

The smell reminds me a bit of coffee, as well as some kind of ham which is coated with spices or something like that before cooking. The taste is a bit sweet and slightly bitter. With imagination, it can taste like chocolate, too. Made of malted barley.

Fuller, Smith & Turner, London, England. 5.4% alcohol.

“…first brewed in 1995 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Fuller, Smith and Turner.

Bottle conditioning, where a small amount of yeast is allowed to ferment gently in the bottle, gives 1845 the fresh, natural flavour of real ale. A blend of amber malt and Golding hops result in a fruit cake aroma, full bodied malt and dry hoppy finish.”

Sweet, with a strong taste of I'm-not-sure-what-exactly, and only slightly bitter. Made of malted barley.

Fuller, Smith & Turner, London, England. 6.3% alcohol.

“Ruddles County is famed for its dry, bitter flavour, which comes from using the rare Bramling Cross hops. Many liken the flavour to burnt toffee and caramel… Ruddles County has a light aroma of soft fruits and hops, and is a deep brown colour with warm, reddish tones.”

It actually smells a bit like burnt toffee, but I don't recognise fruits in the taste. The aftertaste, however, is very bitter. Made of malted barley.

Ruddles Brewing, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. 4.7% alcohol.

The first sip tastes like fresh bread. It has a sweet taste and the flavour reminds me a little bit of beef broth. Made of malted barley, wheat and maize.

Newcastle Federation Breweries Ltd, Dunston, England.

“The blend of Cascade and Challenger hops combine to produce a fresh hop aroma that preludes a bitter-dry taste. Crafted from nearly three centuries of brewing heritage at one of Scotland's oldest breweries.”

Just another ale, with a fresh taste, maybe slightly acid. Made of malted barley.

Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd, Dunbar, Scotland. 5.5% alcohol.

“Authentic IPA would have been a live beer… made with pale malts … and unprocessed whole leaf hops with moderate bittering power but pungent aromas of spice and resin.

Bottle conditioned beer is bottled with live yeast sediment and undergoes further fermentation in the bottle.”

The taste is quite bitter, but also fruity. Made of malted barley.

Ridgeway Brewing, Oxon, England. 5.5% alcohol.

“A unique blend of two classic ales BPA and Old 5X. Old 5X is aged in oak for 2 years. Brewed in llimited quantities. This Vintage Ale is dark and intense, almost ruby in colour with an appetising spicy, fruitcake aroma. This full-bodied ale combines flavours of oak, caramel and burnt toffee… can also be the ideal accompaniement to mature English cheese.”

Quite sweet and very slightly bitter. It tastes of candied fruits, maybe raisins. The after taste of the first sip reminded me of well-done butter biscuit, the next ones of caramel. The smell of the glass is however not very pleasant, very metallic. I tried it with bits of Pilgrim's Choice Matured Cheddar and the result is quite nice (although not extraordinary).

Greene King Westgate Brewery, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. 6.0% alcohol.

“Brewed with choice Styrian Golding hops…”

Quite sweet, it surprisingly tastes of flowers, maybe like violet. Made of malted barley. The 660 mL bottle is quite big, its content doesn't fit into a pint…

Wychwood Brewery Co., Whitney, Oxfordshire, England. 4.2% alcohol.

Just another ale, but with a slightly flowery smell, a smooth texture, as if the gas bubbles were smaller, and a hint of sweetness. Made of malted barley.

Inbev UK Ltd, Luton, England. 4.4% alcohol.

“sweet, golden and refreshing. Brewed using only organically produced ingredients: English malts, and the finest honey gives a mellow, rounded character which is deliciously balanced with zesty hops.”

Smells slighly of honey and the taste is very slightly bitter. Otherwise, it's just another pale ale. Contains malted barley.

Fuller Smith & Turner, London, England. 5.0% alcohol.

“A rich deep flavour that derives from the greater proportion of malted barley to hops which characterised Scottish ales of the 19th century.”

The smell reminded me of grape juice and beef broth, the taste is quite sweet and the aftertaste has again notes of beef broth. Made of malted barley.

Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd., Dunbar, Scotland. 6.5% alcohol.

“Black malt enriches the colour and teases the palate with an unmiskable ‘toast’

flavour. Brown malt gives it the dryness. An excellent accompaniment to red meat.”

Smells of a fruit I cannot put a name onto. The taste is bitter, a bit like coffee, with a sweet finish that reminds me of chocolate. I didn't find the ‘toast’ flavour, though. Made of malted barley.

Hook Norton Brewery, Hook Norton, Oxon, England. 4.8% alcohol.

Just another ale, quite bitter. Made of barley malt.

Marston's Brewery, Burton upon Trent, England. 5.7% alcohol.

“… golden colour, clean full malt flavour and crisp hop flower afterstate, created by a skillful blend of pure Scottish water and the finest organically grown ingredients.”

A malty taste, flowery, with a note of rose, only sightly bitter. The emtpy glass smells of honey. Made of malted barley.

Brougthon Ales Limited, Broughton Biggar, Scotland. 6.0% alcohol.

“… essentially a Yorkshire beer with malt tastes slightly more prominent than the hop flavours… note the nutty overtones and the teasing late bitter-sweet sensations. Brewed using quality grains malts from a traditional Yorkshire maltster, a unique yeast strain, full-leafed hops and Yorkshire Dales water. The name Old Legover is the nickname of the Brewery's popular cask ale, originally called Daleside Country Stile.”

Just another ale, but a nice one. Slightly sweet, and only slightly bitter in the aftertaste.

Daleside Brewery, Starbeck, Harrogate, England. 4.1% alcohol.

“English malt and English hops combine to make a very English beer. Dry and crisp, with a hint of citrus. 303 A.D. – the year of St George – is the beer of St George.”

Pale and quite bitter, with vaguely flowery taste.

Hook Norton Brewery, Hook Norton, Oxon, England. 4.0% alcohol.